The South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium (Consortium) is seeking up to seven graduate students and their faculty mentors to join forces with Sea Grant Extension Specialists to form research-student-specialist Study Groups to conduct and complete integrated research and extension projects during the 2014-2015 academic year. Teams with a student seeking a graduate degree in one of the Consortium’s member institutions – The Citadel, Clemson University, Coastal Carolina University, College of Charleston, and Medical University of South Carolina, SC Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina State University and the University of South Carolina – are invited to apply.

The Changing Face of Coastal South Carolina Every day, more and more people are competing for the use of the coast’s natural resources. Today, the state’s challenge is to conserve those resources while accommodating growth, economic development, environmental quality, and the heritage and quality of life for all of the citizens of South Carolina. This is a crucial challenge because the state’s abundant natural resources contribute much more than just scenic mountain views and beach vistas. A 2009 study at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina documented that the state’s diverse natural resource sectors contributed over $29 billion and 236,110 jobs to the state’s economy in 2008.

The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium’s mission is to provide high quality science and science-based information about the practical use and conservation of coastal and marine resources to citizens, communities and businesses in order to foster a sustainable economy and environment for the state of South Carolina. The Consortium serves to support, improve, and share research, education, training, and advisory services in fields related to ocean and coastal resources. More information can be located on the Consortiums Web site, www.scseagrant.org.

Strength in PartnershipsThe Consortium wishes to pilot novel approaches that examine new ways to integrate science, outreach, management, and policy initiatives, focusing on issues related to aquaculture and fisheries, climate change awareness and planning, coastal hazards, and sustainable development. This year, Mini-Proposals are invited from faculty/student teams to enhance Consortium support for these program areas though a competitive mini-proposal and internal review process. The faculty member and graduate student team will form a Study Group with the appropriate Extension Specialist to complete projects identified as needed by the Consortium’s stakeholders (as described in Attachment A). Applicants will be the faculty/student teams from Consortium member institutions. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with the project Extension Specialist before submitting their Mini-Proposal. We encourage project proposals which can become part of the student’s thesis, dissertation, or capstone paper, or serve as an earned-credit internship.

Study Groups will be supported to conduct already identified projects (Attachment A). Up to three (3) Study Group awards of up to $25,000 each will be awarded to support graduate students to conduct the projects. The projects to be awarded will depend upon the number and quality of proposals received for each. For all funded projects, the students may be asked to become involved and assist in additional Consortium activities. Awards will be made for the 2014-15 academic year, through August 31, 2015. You are encouraged to contact the appropriate Extension Specialist about proposal ideas before developing your mini-proposal.

Study Group projects address elements in the Consortium’s strategic planning areas. The topics for proposals specifically address the needs for research and extension that the Consortium has determined to be a priority this year. Faculty at the Consortium’s partner institutions will provide research guidance and expertise for graduate students conducting the work, while the Consortium’s extension specialists will serve to guide the overall projects, stakeholder engagement, and the application of results. The Consortium is interested in considering only those efforts that address a listed priority project (Attachment A).

Due to the short time-line for conducting the work, the Consortium requests that Mini-Proposals from interested parties be submitted electronically no later than November 17 to provide sufficient time for review. Mini-proposals will be selected by December 1 for development into a detailed work plan. Funding awards will be made upon Consortium approval of a detailed work plan. Mini-proposal projects will begin January 1, 2015.

Preparation and Submission of Mini-ProposalsTo assist with the preparation of Mini-Proposals, we have provided an outline (see Attachment B) to organize critical information. The Mini-Proposal may be no more than 6 single-spaced pages, and it must identify the faculty member, affiliation, and interest in the project; the graduate student/research assistant’s interest and qualifications; a discussion of the proposed approach to the project; and a budget form and budget justification. The budget may provide for student time, travel, and materials to support the project; however, it may not be used to support abatement or be directly applied to tuition and fees. IDCs are not an allowable project cost as the projects are supported by Sea Grant Funding, but could be used to meet the match requirement. The Institution must provide a 50% match in time, materials, or IDC to bring the value of the Study Group award to $37,500.

Timeline

Milestones

October 22

Solicitation letter released

November 17 (CoB)

Mini-Proposals due

By December 1

Solicitation of work plans from Study Groups

December 15, 2014

Detailed work plans due

January 1, 2015

Mini-proposal projects begin

August 30, 2015

Final products and report due

Electronic copies (in Microsoft Word and Excel; please do not submit PDFs) of Detailed Mini-Proposals must be submitted by COB on November 17, 2014 via e-mail with the subject line “Study Group LOI” to:

1. Fishery-related Working Waterfronts – The Study Group will work with commercial fishermen, water dependent businesses, and dock managers to determine the tools and resources (including economic resources) needed to address maintaining, preserving and potentially enhancing coastal waterfront access. This information, paired with information from workshops on “The Evolution of Working Waterfronts in a Changing Climate”, will help communities define what a ‘working waterfront’ looks like in South Carolina and why they matter to the community. This work will help the Consortium design and implement outreach that best serves our constituents’ long-term goals for their community. The Study Group will work with the Working Waterfronts and Climate Change Study Group in producing the working waterfront workshops.

2. Planning for Climate Change and Hazards with Town of Folly Beach – The Study Group will provide technical assistance to the city of Folly Beach as they update and align their local comprehensive beachfront management plan and comprehensive plan, and expand their disaster recovery plan. The team will work with the latest climate data to help Folly Beach assess its vulnerability to climate variability and change and incorporate this information into their plans. The Study Group will provide reports, including GIS maps, which explore economic cost/benefit analyses for preferred planning options.

3. Working Waterfronts and Climate Change – The Study Group will take the lead in organizing workshops in three locations on the SC coast. These workshops will be similar in all locations and focused on “The Evolution of Working Waterfronts in a Changing Climate.” In planning for the workshops, the Study Group will research the history of working waterfronts in South Carolina as well as identify the climate stressors most likely to affect working waterfronts. Working with the Consortium, the Group will help organize and facilitate the workshops, and assist in developing, writing, and presenting the post-workshops report. This assessment will assist the Consortium to characterize our working waterfronts so that we can support communities in their strategies to maintain, preserve and potentially enhance the utility of these spaces.

4. Non-market Values of Beaches in the Charleston Area – A Study Group will coordinate output from a group of 15 students (CofC Graduate Class, Social Methods in Environmental Studies) conducting a second round of social value intercept surveys on three Charleston area beaches. The study collects data about the activities conducted during the beach trip, why people chose the beach for their trip and asks their opinions on beach management related activities including shoreline hardening and then asks people to consider the social values and attachment they hold for the beach. The Group will analyze data from fall 2013 and fall 2014 and consider adding a spring collection in 2015. The Study Group will produce a summary of the analysis for local governments detailing the social values and activities conducted by their visitors. The Group will present the information to local governments where the beach study was conducted. Also included in the project products will be a literature review of beachfront social values and coastal place attachment and the development of publications to extend the information to additional local governments and beach-related businesses.

5. Nature-based Tourism Provider Certification – Through the review of (1) models in other locations, (2) certification models in other industries and (3) nature-based tourism types and practices in South Carolina, a Study Group will develop a model for nature-based tourism providers’ certification in SC. This certification will be distinct from the green certification awarded nature-based tourism businesses and, instead, focus on quality-of-service. The Study Group will work with the developing S.C. Environmental Education Certification Program to share competencies where appropriate. The model will be presented to the Board of Directors of the SC Nature-based Tourism Association for their consideration and the Study Group will continue to work with the Association to develop products for implementation.

6. Case Studies of Good Design in Stormwater Ponds – A Study Group will coordinate output from group of 15 students (CofC Graduate Class, Social Methods in Environmental Studies) conducting interviews and assessments of 3-5 innovative stormwater pond projects in the metropolitan Charleston area. Using the generated data as well as a review of work in SC and other southeastern states the Study Group will develop a small publication for local governments that provides an overview and vital statistics of innovative practices and describes the social, economic and environmental benefits and costs of the case study projects. The project will provide an assessment of the chosen innovative projects to increase societal benefits while lowering the costs to communities.

Coastal Research and Extension Study Groups: Partners in Putting Science to Work in South Carolina

A two-phased proposal approach will be followed. Proposals should be no more than 6 pages single-spaced, one-inch margins, 11-point font. Mini-proposals will be accepted no later than COB November 17. Teams whose mini-proposals are selected will be asked to develop a detailed work plan in consultation with the appropriate Consortium Extension Specialist. Funding awards will be made upon Consortium approval of the detailed work plan. Projects will begin January 1, 2015.

Phase I. Mini-proposals

1. Title of Project (From Attachment A)

Names and affiliations of Team Faculty Member and Graduate Student
Endorsements by lead institution/organization
Total budget amount sought

2. Qualifications for the Project

a. Faculty Interest Statementb. Student
i. Qualifications for research and extension
ii. Statement of Interest (no more than 1 page)
c. Discussion of one approach to the research phase. (no more than 1 page)

3. Detailed Budget (use budget form 90-4 located at scseagrant.org>funding>proposal and reporting forms) and detailed Budget Justification (not included in page total)